The Most-Read TDN Stories of 2024

As the year winds down, now is a relatively quiet time for horse racing. But there was nothing quiet about 2024, another year when there was no shortage of bad news and plenty of controversy thanks to the nasty battle between pro and anti-HISA Forces. The TDN seeks to be fair in its news coverage and makes no attempt to accentuate the negative stories. The problem is that the numbers say the readers prefer to read the “bad stuff.”

What stories resonated most with TDN readers? Here are the top 10 most widely read stories of 2024 and the number of views they received:

1) SCOTUS Grants Stay of Fifth Circuit Unconstitutionality Mandate, by T.D. Thornton (110,804 views)

There were so many fights and so many lawsuits that it was easy to get lost when it came to trying to figure out what was happening with HISA. Would it survive or would the courts declare it to be unconstitutional? An important development covering that very issue occurred in late October. The Supreme Court granted a stay sought by HISA that prevented the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the Fifth circuit from issuing a mandate stemming from the Fifth Circuit opinion that HISA's enforcement mechanism is unconstitutional. The key was that by granting the stay, the Supreme Court signaled that it did not want the lower courts ruling on HISA until the Supreme Court has either taken on the case or decided not to accept it.

2)  Still Sidelined After Run-In with Gulfstream Geese, Sutherland Fears She'll Never Ride Again , by Bill Finley (71,587 views)

A freak accident that occurred on May 6, 2023 at Gulfstream left Chantal Sutherland with such serious injuries that she worried she would never ride again. After the race was over her mount was spooked by a flock of geese, and slingshotted her out of the saddle. The result was that she broke the humerus bone completely off from her shoulder. She has yet to return to riding but says she won't sidelined much longer.

3) The World's Oldest Thoroughbred? We Think We Have Found Him, by Bill Finley  (53,403 views)

In March, Bill Finley covered the story of New Years Eve (Night Conqueror) who was still health and spry despite big 38 years old. Owner Julie Izzo did a lot of research and could not find an older living Thoroughbred. We concluded that it was New Years Eve.

4) Blue-Collar Hero Tyler's Tribe Dies Following Workout Wednesday at Oaklawn; Trainer Temporarily Banned, by Bill Finley (48,957 views)

It started out as a great story.  Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) was an Iowa-bred 2-year-old who could fly. He won his first five starts by a combined 59 3/4 lengths and would go on to run in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, where he bled and was eased. Nothing went right ever again and in May he died following a four-furlong workout at Oaklawn Park. Tyler's Tribe's trainer Tim Martin was temporarily banned by Oaklawn.

5) Farewell to a Stallion Thoroughly Deserving of Acclaim, by Emma Berry   (48,795 views)

European editor Emma Berry tells the story of sire Acclamation (GB), who died late in the year at the age of 25. His death occurred just a few weeks after he had been officially retired.

6) Kentucky Trailer Accident Kills Three Thoroughbreds, by T.D. Thornton (42,450 views)

An overnight trailer crash on the Bluegrass Parkway in Nelson County, Kentucky hospitalized the driver and killed three horses from the barn of trainer Eddie Kenneally who were being transported from Oaklawn Park to Keeneland.

7) Just Steel Exits Preakness with Injury, To Head to Rood and Riddle, by Christina Bossinakis (42,367 Views)

Christina Bossinakis reported on the condition of GI Preakness S. starter Just Steel (Justify). He exited the race with a condylar fracture of the right front leg and had surgery performed by Dr. Larry Bramlage. Just Steel has since recovered and has rejoined the Wayne Lukas stable at Oaklawn Park.

8) White Abarrio Sent Back to Joseph, by Bill Finley (38,068 views)

After a disappointing showing in the GI Metropolitan H. at Saratoga, the owners of White Abarrio (Race Day) decided to send last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner back to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Joseph was his original trainer before the owners sent him to be trained by Rick Dutrow. Because Joseph had had two horse die (neither one from Musculoskeletal injuries) in the days leading up to the Derby it wasn't immediately clear whether or not Joseph would be allowed to run White Abarrio in the GI Metropolitan Handicap. So the owners gave the horse to Dutrow only go back to Joseph.

9) Owners of Horses Killed, Injured in Bluegrass Pkwy Accident Sue Van Company, Driver for $3 Million, by T.D. Thornton (36,019 views)

The owners of seven Thoroughbreds killed or injured in a Mar. 25, 2024, accident on the Bluegrass Parkway when a trailer driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and careened off the road while en route from Fair Grounds to Keeneland are suing the equine transport company and the driver in federal court, seeking “not less than” $3 million in compensatory damages and a separate amount in punitive damages that the plaintiffs want decided at a trial.

10) Jayarebe Dies Following Breeders' Cup Turf, by Bill Finley (34,796 views)

European shipper Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) died following the running of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. The 3-year-old finished the race, but collapsed during the gallop out. According to a statement put out by the Breeders' Cup, Jayarebe suffered what appears to have been a cardiac event.